Clinton makes a stop at the Civic Center of Anderson

Sen. Hillary Clinton, a Democratic presidential candidate, answered five questions from the audience during an afternoon campaign stop at the Civic Center of Anderson. An estimated 700 people were in attendance.

Presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., speaks Thursday to a large crowd at the Civic Center of Anderson.

ANDERSON - A visit to Anderson on Thursday by presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York was reaffirmation that Anderson Democrats count too, said Stuart Sprague, chairman of the Anderson Democratic Party.

More than 600 people turned out at the Anderson Civic Center to see Sen. Clinton in one of her last stops in South Carolina before the state's Democratic presidential primary on Saturday.

"This is very big for Anderson," Mr. Sprague said. "This is the fifth of the six major candidates (in the Democratic primary) to come here."

The only candidate not to visit Anderson was U.S. Barack Obama of Illinois. His wife, Michelle Obama, campaigned in the city for him in August.

"We are regarded as the backwater for the Democrats," Mr. Sprague said. "Most of the Democrats in the state are in the Low Country. But our purpose is to show them that there are Democrats here, and they do vote."

In introducing Mrs. Clinton, Anderson County Councilwoman Gracie Floyd said, "I have been down my knees. I have done some tall, hard praying, and today, the Lord has blessed us."

Most of those in attendance Thursday had already decided which candidate they choose — Mrs. Clinton.

"I like her because she's smart, and I like her stand on the issues," said Crystal McCoy of Anderson. "I am concerned about health care and the war. Those are the things that are important to me."

Robbie McLaurin waited patiently in one of the back rows to ask Mrs. Clinton a question.

"I want to know what productive measures she would take against terrorism," Ms. McLaurin said.

A student at Lander University, she said she was concerned about the threat to the United States from abroad, and that was her only question about which she was unaware of Ms. Clinton's answer.

Although a supporter of Mrs. Clinton, she said it had been a hard decision.

"I am decided. I am voting for Hillary. But it was a strong toss-up. I love (John) Edwards a lot, and I kind of feel disloyal for not voting for another South Carolinian," she said. "But I think she is the only one who is going to get us out of the problems we're in."

Mrs. Clinton discussed not only her plans on health care, including opening up the Congressional health care plans to average citizens, but also her feelings about boosting the economy by creating "green jobs" and protecting the environment.